I consider it a good thing to get free brass by the bucket even if it comes from gravel pits. I sort and wash all of it before working with it. The question is, a lot of the 223 brass has slight dings in it, would you reload and use it? I have been and have not had any problems. If it is more than a minor ding I toss it. I have a 5 gallon bucket full of brass that is going to the recyclers tomorrow. Also when I size the brass some of the necks are too small for the pilot point. I found that a 7/32" drill is 5.56mm so I put it in the vise and chuck the brass lightly in my 1/2" drill and with a little lube turn the brass onto the butt of the drill and it works fine... Thanks,

Yes, I pick up gravel pit .223 brass. I put in with my miscellaneous brass for reloading plinking ammo. Small dents just get expanded out with the next firing. I like the above rule about smooth versus creased. I never load to max pressures either (like below military case levels). But overall I find very little .223 brass compared to what I shoot of my own.

My own good brass, LC and R-P, I keep separate from the mixed bag brass. I use this good brass for loading more precision rounds by headstamp.

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For dings in the case mouths I use a line-up punch that has a long taper to it. It definitely will turn a dented mouth round without an issue, no lube required. They come in a couple of different sizes to suit your needs.

Abandoned gravel pits and rock quarries are where a lot of people go to shoot guns and most of them leave their brass on the ground. I have a retired friend that knows where all these areas are around the town he lives in. So every couple weeks he takes a day and goes brass picking. Until he found out that I reload he would take it to the metal recyclers and get cash for the collection.
Now he gives me a couple 5 gallon buckets a year. I have to sort it out and clean and clean and clean it all before reloading. I only use this for practice and making loud noises... I sell some to friends for the same purpose. By the way, cleaning got a lot easier after I bought an Isonic ultra sonic cleaner from Amazon, 2.1 quart with a heater for $100 with free shipping.

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